TP-LINK Archer C900 User guide

REV1.0.0 1910012059

User Guide

AC900 Wireless Dual Band Router

Archer C900

Contents

About This Guide .........................................................................................................1

Chapter 1. Get to Know About Your Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

1. 1. Product Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

1. 2. Appearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

1. 2. 1. The Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

1. 2. 2. The Back Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Chapter 2. Connect the Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

2. 1. Position Your Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

2. 2. Connect Your Router. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Chapter 3. Log in to Your Router. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Chapter 4. Set Up Internet Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

4. 1. Use Quick Setup Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

4. 2. Manually Set up Your Internet Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

4. 3. Set Up an IPv6 Internet Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Chapter 5. Guest Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

5. 1. Create a Network for Guests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

5. 2. Customize Guest Network Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Chapter 6. Parental Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Chapter 7. QoS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Chapter 8. Network Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

8. 1. Protect the Network from Cyber Attacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

8. 2. Access Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

8. 3. IP & MAC Binding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Chapter 9. NAT Forwarding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

9. 1. Application Layer Gateway(ALG) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

9. 2. Share Local Resources on the Internet by Virtual Servers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

9. 3. Open Ports Dynamically by Port Triggering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

9. 4. Make Applications Free from Port Restriction by DMZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

9. 5. Make Xbox Online Games Run Smoothly by UPnP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Chapter 10. Customize Your Network Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

10. 1. Change the LAN Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

10. 2. Configure to Support IPTV Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

10. 3. Specify DHCP Server Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

10. 4. Set Up a Dynamic DNS Service Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

10. 5. Create Static Routes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

10. 6. Specify Wireless Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

10. 7. Use WPS for Wireless Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

10. 7. 1. Set the Router’s PIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

10. 7. 2. Use the WPS Wizard for Wi-Fi Connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Chapter 11. Manage the Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

11. 1. Set Up System Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

11. 2. Test the Network Connectivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

11. 3. Upgrade the Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

11. 3. 1. Online Upgrade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

11. 3. 2. Manual Upgrade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

11. 3. 3. Restore Interrupted Upgrade after Power Failure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

11. 4. Backup and Restore Configuration Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

11. 5. Change the Administrator Account. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

11. 6. Password Recovery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

11. 7. Local Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

11. 8. Remote Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

11. 9. System Log. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

11. 10. Monitor the Internet Traffic Statistics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

11. 11. Control LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

FAQ ................................................................................................................................70

1

About This Guide

This guide is a complement of Quick Installation Guide. The Quick Installation Guide

instructs you on quick Internet setup, and this guide provides details of each function

and shows you the way to configure these functions appropriate to your needs.

When using this guide, please notice that features of the router may vary slightly

depending on the model and software version you have, and on your location, language,

and Internet service provider. All screenshots, images, parameters and descriptions

documented in this guide are used for demonstration only.

Conventions

In this guide the following conventions are used:

Convention Description

Underlined

Underlined words or phrases are hyperlinks. You can click to redirect to a

website or a specific section.

Teal

Contents to be emphasized and texts on the web page are in teal, including the

menus, items, buttons, etc.

>

The menu structures to show the path to load the corresponding page.

For example, Advanced > Wireless > MAC Filtering means the MAC Filtering

function page is under the Wireless menu that is located in the Advanced tab.

Note:

Ignoring this type of note might result in a malfunction or damage to the device.

Tips:

Indicates important information that helps you make better use of your device.

Symbols on the web

page

•

Click to edit the corresponding entry.

•

Click to delete the corresponding entry.

•

Click to enable or disable the corresponding entry.

•

Click to view more information about items on the page.

More Info

• The latest software, management app and utility can be found at Download Center at

http://www.tp-link.com/support.

• The Quick Installation Guide can be found where you find this guide or inside the

package of the router.

• Specifications can be found on the product page at http://www.tp-link.com.

• A Technical Support Forum is provided for you to discuss our products at

http://forum.tp-link.com.

• Our Technical Support contact information can be found at the Contact Technical

Support page at http://www.tp-link.com/support.

Chapter 1

Get to Know About Your

Router

This chapter introduces what the router can do and shows its appearance.

It contains the following sections:

• Product Overview

• Appearance

3

1. 1. Product Overview

The TP-Link router is designed to fully meet the need of Small Office/Home Office

(SOHO) networks and users demanding higher networking performance. The powerful

antennas ensure continuous Wi-Fi signal to all your devices while boosting widespread

coverage throughout your home, and Ethernet ports supply high-speed connection to

your wired devices.

Moreover, it is simple and convenient to set up and use the TP-Link router due to its

intuitive web interface and the powerful Tether app.

1. 2. Appearance

1. 2. 1. The Front Panel

The router’s LEDs (view from left to right) are located on the front panel. You can check

the router’s working status by following the LED Explanation table.

LED Explanation

Name Status Indication

(Power)

On

System initialization is complete.

Flashing

The system is initializing or the firmware is being upgraded. Do not

disconnect or power off the router.

Off

Power is off.

4

Name Status Indication

(wireless)

On

The 2.4GHz wireless is working normally.

Off

The 2.4GHz wireless is disabled.

(Wireless)

On

The 5GHz wireless is working normally.

Off

The 5GHz wireless is disabled.

(Ethernet)

On

The corresponding Ethernet port is connected.

Off

The corresponding Ethernet port is not connected.

(Internet)

Blue On

The internet is available.

Orange On

The router’s Internet port is connected, but the internet is not

available.

Off

The router’s Internet port is not connected.

(WPS)

On/Off

Turns on when WPS connection is established, and goes off about

5 minutes later.

Flashing

A wireless device is trying to connect to the network via WPS. This

process may take up to 2 minutes.

1. 2. 2. The Back Panel

Wi-Fi

/WPS

The router’s ports (view from left to right) are located on the back panel.

5

Item Description

Ethernet Ports (1/2/3/4)

For connecting the router to the Ethernet network devices, such as PCs,

smart TVs and game consoles.

Internet Port

For connecting to the DSL/Cable modem, or an Ethernet port.

Wi-Fi/WPS

Press this button, and immediately press the WPS button on your device. The

WPS LED of the router should change from flashing to solid on, indicating

successful WPS connection.

Press and hold this button for more than 2 seconds to turn on or off the

wireless function of your router.

Reset Button

Press and hold this button until the Power LED blinks to reset the router to its

factory default settings.

Power On/Off Button

Press this button to power on or off the router.

Power Port

For connecting the router to power socket via the provided power adapter.

Antennas

Used for wireless operation and data transmit. Upright them for the best Wi-

Fi performance.

Chapter 2

Connect the Hardware

This chapter contains the following sections:

• Position Your Router

• Connect Your Router

7

2. 1. Position Your Router

• The product should not be located in a place where it will be exposed to moisture or

excessive heat.

• Place the router in a location where it can be connected to multiple devices as well as

to a power source.

• Make sure the cables and power cord are safely placed out of the way so they do not

create a tripping hazard.

• The router can be placed on a shelf or desktop.

• Keep the router away from devices with strong electromagnetic reference, such as

Bluetooth devices, cordless phones and microwaves.

2. 2. Connect Your Router

Follow the steps below to connect your router.

If your Internet connection is through an Ethernet cable directly from the wall instead

of through a DSL / Cable / Satellite modem, connect the Ethernet cable to the router’s

Internet port, and then follow Step 4 and 5 to complete the hardware connection.

Modem

Power adapter

Router

Internet

1

2

3

4

1. Turn off the modem, and remove the backup battery if it has one.

2. Connect the modem to your router’s Internet port with an Ethernet cable.

8

3. Turn on the modem, and then wait about 2 minutes for it to restart.

4. Connect the power adapter to the router and turn on the router.

5. Verify that the following LEDs are on and solid to confirm the hardware is connected

correctly.

Power

On

5G

On

Internet

2.4G

On

Note:

If the 2.4G and 5G LEDs are off, press and hold the Wi-Fi/WPS button on the rear panel for more than 5 seconds to turn

them on.

6. Connect your computer to the router.

• Method 1: Wired

Turn off the Wi-Fi on your computer and connect the devices as shown below.

Ethernet cable

• Method 2: Wirelessly

1 ) Find the SSID (Network Name) and Wireless Password printed on the label at

the bottom of the router.

2 ) Click the network icon of your computer or go to Wi-Fi Settings of your smart

device, and then select the SSID to join the network.

OR

Connections are available

Wireless Network Connection

Connect automatically Connect

TP-Link_XXX X

TP-Link_XXX X_5G

Wi-Fi

TP-Link_XXX X

TP-Link_XXX X_5G

CHOOSE A NETWORK...

Other...

< Settings

Smart DeviceComputer

• Method 3: Use the WPS button

Wireless devices that support WPS, including Android phones, tablets, most USB

network cards, can be connected to your router through this method.

9

Note:

• WPS is not supported by iOS devices.

• The WPS function cannot be configured if the wireless function of the router is disabled. Also, the WPS

function will be disabled if your wireless encryption is WEP. Please make sure the wireless function is

enabled and is configured with the appropriate encryption before configuring the WPS.

1 ) Tab the WPS icon on the device’s screen. Here we take an Android phone for

instance.

2 ) Within two minutes, press the WPS button on your router.

Wi-Fi

/WPS

close to

Chapter 3

Log in to Your Router

11

With a web-based utility, it is easy to configure and manage the router. The web-based

utility can be used on any Windows, Macintosh or UNIX OS with a Web browser, such as

Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox or Apple Safari.

Follow the steps below to log in to your router.

1. Set up the TCP/IP Protocol in Obtain an IP address automatically mode on your

computer.

2. Visit http://tplinkwifi.net, and then create a password to manage your wireless router.

3. Log in with the password you have set for the router every time when you want to visit

the web management page .

Note:

If the login window does not appear, please refer to the FAQ Section.

Chapter 4

Set Up Internet Connection

This chapter introduces how to connect your router to the Internet. The router is

equipped with a web-based Quick Setup wizard. It has necessary ISP information built

in, automates many of the steps and verifies that those steps have been successfully

completed. Furthermore, you can also set up an IPv6 connection if your ISP provides

IPv6 service.

This chapter contains the following sections:

• Use Quick Setup Wizard

• Manually Set up Your Internet Connection

• Set Up an IPv6 Internet Connection

13

4. 1. Use Quick Setup Wizard

The Quick Setup Wizard will guide you through the process to set up your router.

Tips:

If you need the IPv6 Internet connection, please refer to the section of Set Up an IPv6 Internet Connection.

Follow the steps below to set up your router.

1. Visit http://tplinkwifi.net, and log in with the password you set for the router.

2. Click Quick Setup on the top of the page. Then follow the step-by-step instructions

to connect your router to the Internet.

Note:

During the quick setup process:

• If you are not sure of the Internet Connection Type, please click Auto Detect or contact your ISP for

Internet connection information.

• If you have changed the preset wireless network name (SSID) and wireless password, all your wireless

devices must use the new SSID and password to connect to the router.

4. 2. Manually Set up Your Internet Connection

In this part, you can check your current Internet connection settings. You can also

modify the settings according to the service information provided by your ISP.

Follow the steps below to check or modify your Internet connection settings.

1. Visit http://tplinkwifi.net, and log in with the password you set for the router.

2. Go to Basic > Internet.

3. Select your Internet connection type from the drop-down list.

Note:

If you are unsure of what your connection type is, click Auto Detect. Since different connection types need different

cables and connection information, you can also refer to the demonstrations in Step 4 to determine your connection

type.

4. Follow the instructions on the page to continue the configuration. Parameters on the

figures are just used for demonstration.

1 ) If you choose Dynamic IP, you need to select whether to clone the MAC address.

Dynamic IP users are usually equipped with a cable TV or fiber cable.

14

2 ) If you choose Static IP, enter the information provided by your ISP in the

corresponding fields.

3 ) If you choose PPPoE, enter the password provided by your ISP. PPPoE users

usually have DSL cable modems.

15

4 ) If you choose L2TP, enter the password and choose the Secondary Connection

provided by your ISP. Different parameters are needed according to the

Secondary Connection you have chosen.

5 ) If you choose PPTP, enter the password, and choose the Secondary Connection

provided by your ISP. Different parameters are needed according to the

Secondary Connection you have chosen.

16

5. Click Save.

Note:

It may take 1-2 minutes to make the settings valid.

6. After the connection succeeds, the screen will display as follows. Here we take PPPoE

as an example.

17

Tips:

• If your Internet connection type is BigPond Cable, please go to Advanced > Network > Internet to set

your router.

• If you use Dynamic IP and PPPoE and you are provided with any other parameters that are not required

on the page, please go to Advanced > Network > Internet to complete the configuration.

• If you still cannot access the Internet, refer to the FAQ for further instructions.

4. 3. Set Up an IPv6 Internet Connection

Your ISP provides information about one of the following IPv6 Internet connection types:

PPPoE, Dynamic IP(SLAAC/DHCPv6), Static IP, 6to4 tunnel, Pass-Through (Bridge).

1. Visit http://tplinkwifi.net, and log in with the password you set for the router.

2. Go to Advanced > IPv6.

3. Enable IPv6 and select the Internet connection type provided by your ISP.

Tips:

If you do not know what your Internet connection type is, contact your ISP or judge according to the already known

information provided by your ISP.

4. Fill in information as required by different connection types. Red blanks must be filled

in.

1 ) Static IP: Fill in blanks and click Save.

2 ) Dynamic IP(SLAAC/DHCPv6): Click Advanced to input further information if

your ISP requires. Click Save and then click Renew.

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TP-LINK Archer C900 User guide

TP-LINK Archer C900 User guide

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